The Hong Kong Music Institute (HKMI), founded in 1950 as the China Christian Sacred Music School, is the oldest music institute in Hong Kong. It has been nurturing music talents since its establishment. HKMI is committed to provide music education to all walks of life irrespective of their diversified musical background and academic abilities.

In recent years, students of the HKMI are mainly composed of three categories:

1) Secondary school graduates who are interested in studying music at the tertiary level but not yet qualified for entering the universities and conservatories. The HKMI provides a solid and all-round music training to them. Some of them further study at universities or conservatories after getting a good foundational training in music skills and knowledge at the HKMI.

2) People who are in employment and are keen on music but lack an opportunity to learn music in their young age. They choose to study music at the HKMI in the evening to fulfil their self-development and interest. Some people of this group already possess a university degree, and they may move on to study in Master’s programmes in music after attending courses at the HKMI. Some others change their career to teaching music (mainly as instrumental teachers, vocal teachers, or conductors) when they have attained a competent level of musical knowledge and skills.

3) People who are going to retire or have retired. To prepare for the retirement, this group of people has chosen a spiritual pursuit and cultural enhancement through music learning at the HKMI.

To cater for different learning goals of our students, the HKMI offers a flexible curriculum. Those students who aim at becoming music professionals may opt for the Diploma Course, which provide an all-round training in music. Students of the Diploma Course are required to complete all core courses, specialized courses of his/her chosen Department, as well as taking individual instrumental, vocal, composition, or conducting lessons according to the requirements of his/her chosen Department.

Those students who pursue music study as an interest may opt for the Certificate Course. Students of the Certificate Course are required to take classes only, with no obligation to take individual instrumental, vocal, composition, or conducting lessons at our Institute.

Students in the piano teaching profession or aiming at pursuing such a career may opt for the Piano Pedagogy Certificate Course. This Course provides a theoretical and pedagogical foundation to piano teachers and better equips them to improvement in their teaching career.

Students who are interested in taking a single subject of our Diploma, Certificate, and Piano Pedagogy Certificate Courses may enrol as elective students, provided that they meet the prerequisite requirements of their chosen subject.

Since students of the Diploma, Certificate, Piano Pedagogy Certificate Courses of HKMI are adults, our Institute allow great freedom in the duration of the completion of these Courses. Students may progress and graduate according to their own pace.

The HKMI is not just a school, it is also a family. Teachers and students feel close and they care for each other. We implement small class teaching with class size normally under twenty in order to facilitate communication and attention for individual needs. Generally, Cantonese supplemented with English is adopted as the medium of instruction in order to maximize the effectiveness of teaching.

The HKMI offers various performing opportunities for the students. The Hong Kong Music Institute Chorus provides weekly choral practices. Students are coached by experienced instructors to learn choral singing and performance practices on Chinese and Western repertoire. This Chorus performs in the annual public concert of our Institute.

There is an internal student concert every month which provides a platform for students to perform individually or in ensemble. Reviews and comments from teachers after the performance pave for students further development. Every year, the HKMI organizes large-scale concerts in public venues, such as the City Hall and the Civic Centres, to create opportunities for the HKMI Chorus, students and alumni to perform, as well as for the students and teachers of the Department of Composition to have their works performed.

HKMI is an ideal place to learn music in a small and close circle, with the guidance of experienced teachers who are enthusiastic in teaching music. If you are passionate in learning music, we welcome you to join us, in the enhancement of music abilities, knowledge and culture.